Skin receptors

Our skin is extremely sensitive to mechanical and thermal (temperature) stimulation, due to the number and variety of receptors located in skin layers.

These include free nerve endings, corpuscles, bulbs and discs that transmit information about pain, touch, light and strong pressure, vibration, temperature and hair movement. They have long axons (nerve fibres) that carry information to the central nervous system. Decisions are then made about actions that might need to be taken – for instance, the body may start shivering if the sensors indicate it’s too cold, or perspire if it’s too hot.